Matthew Timms
The Yorkshire 3 Peaks - Help Jem to live his BEST LIFE!
Fundraising for Tree of Hope
Story
Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.
It is great that you are here!
My Brother and I Guy Timms are raising money for our nephew Jem Timms by aiming to complete the Yorkshire 3 peaks in less than 12 hours, on Saturday 27th April.
Jem needs an All Terrain Wheelchair with electric assist and additional therapy to support him in his day-to-day life and on future adventures. Jem is a fun-loving 13-year-old boy, with rockstar hair and smiley eyes. Jem has the sunniest of outlooks. He lives in Manchester with his parents Dan and Solange and his younger brother Seb. Seb is also severely disabled.
He is keen to explore more with his brother. They are a super active family. However, due to Jem’s condition and regression, he can no longer walk without support. At birth, Jem got into extreme difficulty and ended up spending significant time in a neonatal unit. He experienced a HIE (hypoxic-ischemic event) which resulted in a diagnosis of cerebral palsy, epilepsy and profound learning disability. Unfortunately, in the past few years, Jem’s condition has regressed significantly. After walking independently, Jem now requires a walking frame to get around at school and spends a lot of time in his current wheelchair. Reduced movement has meant Jem has lost a lot of his muscle mass. Jem’s epilepsy has also significantly increased, with him experiencing multiple seizures daily, impacting his quality of life.
Jem LOVES going on day trips and adventures. However, there are limits to where the family can go as Jem’s current wheelchair is not even up to the challenge of the Manchester cobbles let alone the countryside, seaside, and beyond! Add in our typical English weather and the family are often defeated before they have even ventured out.
Last year, the search began for the right mobility aid for Jem, as sadly they are not supplied by the NHS. My brother and his wife met up with Roger who owns the Mountain Trike Company and he demonstrated the MT ePush, an all-terrain wheelchair with electric assist. It has mountain bike wheels with electric assistance so steeper hills and tricky terrain can be tackled for greater adventures. Jem could even go on the beach which he LOVES!
Unfortunately, the barrier is the cost. The wheelchair costs over £8,000. One activity that really helps with Jem’s mobility is hydrotherapy. This involves working his muscles in a specialist, heated pool to help Jem to maintain his strength, stamina and muscle movement.
To enable Jem to access vital therapies such as; physio, rebound, occupational and play for his multiple support needs, the family needs £10,000 to pay for the wheelchair and the additional therapy.
They would love to be able to afford this aid and support for Jem but currently the cost is far beyond their reach. The all-terrain wheelchair coupled with the vital therapy really would be life-changing for Jem and would mean far more fun, outdoor adventures, and better health outcomes for his teenage years and hopefully beyond.
Thank you for your valuable time, your care and your kindness.
Jem is raring to explore the world!